MND Local Puerto Vallarta: High season kicks off with Día de Muertos, artisan markets, PGA Tour and HEAT Latin Music Awards

High season is around the corner, and Puerto Vallarta is gearing up to welcome visitors from the north. Tianguis, or outdoor artisan markets, are opening this week; entertainment venues are announcing their winter lineups, and Avenida México on the Malecón just got a facelift.

The season kicks off with Día de Muertos — Mexico’s colorful and joyful tribute to departed souls; the HEAT Latin Music Awards; and a Professional Golf Association (PGA) tournament at VidantaWorld.

Read on and mark your calendars with fun things to do only available during high season.

Día de Muertos

Puerto Vallarta will put on another epic Día de Muertos celebration this year with its monumental Catrina on the Malecón (although this year Vallarta will lose its “tallest Catrina in the world” Guinness World Record to Mexico City) and events planned throughout the historic city center from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2.

Highlights include 50 large-scale Catrinas displayed along the Malecón, a lighted boat parade to pay homage to departed fishermen, ballet folklórico presentations at Los Arcos, live mariachi at Plaza de Armas, and a grand parade of Catrinas, Catrines and musicians from the municipal cemetery to the Los Muertos beach pier.

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All events are free and open to the public. I recommend getting downtown before sunset if you are driving or taking public transport. Last year, we waited until nightfall, and it took over an hour to drive from the marina to the Malecón, just 8 kilometers away. It’s a beautiful celebration you don’t want to miss.

Artisan market openings

Local artisans and food vendors are busy making, baking and crafting to prepare for Vallarta’s many artisanal tianguis — or outdoor markets — that run during high season. The three main markets are the La Cruz Market on Sundays in Nuevo Vallarta, the Thursday night market at Marina Vallarta, and the Olas Altas Farmers Market on Saturdays in the Romantic Zone.

Visitors can fill their shopping bags with locally made treats, jewelry, artwork and more nearly every day of the week. We’ve made the Thursday night Marina Vallarta market part of our winter dining routine. Some of our favorite goodies are the BBQ pork sandwiches, Oaxacan (banana leaf-wrapped) tamales, baklava, peanut brittle and tamarindo-infused ginger beer. We also love the live entertainment and unique artwork you can find at the La Cruz market.

The Marina Vallarta market opens Thursday, Oct. 29; La Cruz Market on Sunday, Nov. 1; and Olas Altas Farmers Market on Saturday, Nov. 7. Come prepared to shop and eat well!

VidantaWorld Mexico Open 2026

Professional golfers from around the world will compete for a purse of US $6 million at the Mexico Open 2026. The tournament takes place Oct. 26 to Nov. 1 at the VidantaWorld resort in Nuevo Vallarta.

The first Mexico Open was held in 1944 at the Chapultepec Golf Club outside of Mexico City. After 1960, the tournament traveled to different courses around the country. It moved to the VidantaWorld course in Nuevo Vallarta in 2022 when it became an official PGA Tour event. The competition is broadcast internationally and has put Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta on the map for golf fans worldwide.

Among the players competing this year are last year’s Mexico Open champion Brian Campbell, along with previous tournament champ Tony Finau and other top-ranked players such as Wyndham Clark, Lucas Glover and Ben Griffin. Also joining the 120 pros on the course will be local Mexican champs Álvaro Ortiz, Omar Morales and Santiago de la Fuente.

The four-day tournament coincides with the opening of the resort’s Bon theme park on Oct. 24 and a Robbie Williams concert on Oct. 27. Tournament tickets are available on FeverUp, or you can catch it streaming online on the Golf Channel.

HEAT Latin Music Awards

Puerto Vallarta will host the 11th annual HEAT Latin Music Awards gala this year, making it the first Mexican city to do so. The awards ceremony takes place on Nov. 5 at the Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center and caps off a week of art, music and cultural performances in Jalisco.

The HEAT awards honor musicians from across Latin America, with categories for best salsa, tropical and Dominican artist, plus a new category this year for best regional Mexican artist. Since Sept. 24, fans have been voting for their favorite artists via the LosHeatTV mobile app.

Leading the list of nominees is Colombian singer Karol G, nominated for 10 awards including best female artist, best urban artist, album of the year (for “Tropicoqueta”) and best viral song (“Bby WOW”), among others. Bad Bunny follows with nine nominations, and Carlos Rivera and Shakira with seven nominations each.

Smaller than the industry-led Latin Grammys and Billboard Latin Music Awards, the HEAT awards are voted on by fans and focused on more regional Latin American music and digital creators.

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So although the high season is around the corner, the temperatures (and music) are still hot in Puerto Vallarta.

And if the HEAT awards get you longing for live Latin and Mexican music, in the next events roundup I’ll feature some of the best places in Vallarta to see local musicians.

Debbie Slobe is a writer and communications strategist based in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. She blogs at Mexpatmama.com and is a senior program director at Resource Media. Find her on Instagram and Facebook.